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Prince Rupert Port Authority releases schedule for 2013 cruise season

Nine cruise ships will berth at Northland Terminal in Prince Rupert during the 2013 cruise season, carrying up to 4,856 passengers all together.

“Positive feedback from guests and cruise lines during the 2012 season is driving the development of new excursions and experiences. Also, the development vision for Prince Rupert’s central waterfront is generating positive interest from decision-makers in the cruise industry,” Shaun Stevenson, Vice-president of Trade Development and Public Affairs for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, said.

The first vessel to berth this season will be the returning MS Regatta from the Oceania cruise line on Saturday, June 15. The MS Regatta is a 684-passenger ship that last berthed at Northland Terminal in 2011.

The same ship will stop in Prince Rupert twice more following its first visit, returning on Wednesday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 10.

Cruise line Zegrahm’s vessel the Caledonia Sky will arrive in Prince Rupert for its first time on June 27. After making its inaugural visit to the community, the 100-passenger cruise ship will sail on to Alaska, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

The Silver Seas’ Silver Shadow, which carries up to 380 passengers, will be repeating the two July calls it made in the 2012 season, arriving in Prince Rupert on Friday, July 19 and Monday, July 29.

The smallest ships to visit Prince Rupert this season will be the long-time returning Lindblad Expedition sister ships the National Geographic Sea Lion and the National Geographic Sea Bird, vessels that began docking in Prince Rupert before the Northland Terminal was opened in 2004. The Sea Lion will stop in Prince Rupert on Saturday, Sept. 7, followed by the Sea Bird on Sunday, Sept. 8. Both cruise ships carry up to 72 passengers.

The final vessel to berth in Prince Rupert this summer will be Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Century, arriving in Prince Rupert on Monday, Sept. 23. The 1,800-passenger vessel will be the largest to dock in the community this season, and will be the first time a Celebrity Cruise ship has called on Prince Rupert since 2008.

To ensure passengers get off the boat and roam the community, the Prince Rupert Cruise Task Force will once again aim to entertain and inform passengers of all Prince Rupert has to offer this season. Partners of the task force are currently aligning themselves for the 2013 season, and will hold their first meeting at the beginning of March.

“We’re going to be expanding the focus beyond cruise to really embrace the entire Prince Rupert experience… We’re committed to the success of cruise and deepening our reputation as one of the friendliest port of calls in the Alaska theatre,” said John Farrell of the task force.

Additionally, the Prince Rupert Port Authority said it will continue to be aggressive with its marketing campaign to cement Prince Rupert’s status as an attractive destination for cruise tourism, engaging with cruise lines to demonstrate the community’s capabilities.

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